Exercising and treatment apparatus



Dec. 1, 1936.

EXERCISING AND TREATMENT APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l v v I N V EN TOR. EGWA SEET z'c'lfs'azz,

ATTORNEY F. E. ERICKSON 2,062,299

Dec. 1, 1936. P. E. ERICKSON EXERCISING AND TREATMENT APPARATUS Filed June TO, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIE-i m A g 7 n m P JLM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES EXERCISING AND TREATMENT APPARATUS Prentis E. Erickson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to James B. Bradshaw, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 10, 1935, Serial No. 25,924 3 Claims. o1.1'2s-25) This invention relates to improvements in exercising and massaging apparatus, and more particularly to a device used in connection with a bed support upon which the patient lies, and

places the feet in a pair of shoes attached to the foot and leg exercising mechanism, and by turning on an electric switch which controls the motive means, the feet and legs are moved in a circular path, thereby exercising and bringing into use all of the muscles of the lower body and legs.

An object of the invention is to provide a manually controlled exercising mechanism which will be used to exercise the lower body and legs I of a patient, and also exercise the arm and upper body muscles, due to my improved vibrating and. exercising apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bed support upon which a patient lies, and an improved exercising apparatus adapted to exercise, vibrate and knead, all at the same time, or the various mechanisms may be operated singly, as desired.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide an improved exercising and vibrating apparatus, used in connection with a bed support upon which the patient may lie, and may receive in a few minutes of treatment, all of the benefit which would be derived from walking many miles,

30 and without the strain on the heart, that would accompany the strenuous efforts of walking.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a highly efficient and inexpensive exercising and vibrating apparatus, which will ex- 35 ercise all portions and muscles in the body, while in a reclining position, thereby taking the entire strain from the normally over-worked heart of the patient being treated, said treatment being effected with a minimum of time, and with 40 'a maximum of efiiciency.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of my application,

45 Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved exercising and massaging apparatus, showing the upper body vibrator in position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section of the body vibrator;

50 Figure 3 is a perspective View of the exercising and massaging apparatus without the body vibrator, showing a man on the bed support in position to be treated;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the foot pedals and associated rotating elements.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the following specification and the accompanying drawings to designate corresponding parts.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a suit- 5 able supporting bed I having a plurality of legs 2, and a frame or housing 3 mounted at one end thereof. Stub'axles l are mounted in the opposite sides of the frame or housing 3 and have affixed thereto the driving wheels 5, which are 16 .the pedals 8, preferably by bolts or straps H, and 20 when the person to be treated lies on his back on the bed support I, and the feet placed in the shoes H], the knees will be slightly bent, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The bracket IZIis secured to one side of the frame or housing 3, and supports the driving motor l3, which drives through the reduction gear mechanism l4, which in turn is geared to the small gear l5 fixed to the stub shaft or axle 4. Suitable electrical connections will be made from the motor [3 to a source of electrical supply, and the motor will be controlled by the switch l6, mounted at the side of the bed support I within reach when the patient is lying on the bed. Assuming that the person was on the bed, as shown in Figure 3, the switch [6 would be closed, and the motor I 3 would drive the driving wheels 5, which would impart a circular path of movement to the shoes 10, and accordingly to the feet of the patient, thus bringing into play all of the muscles of the feet, legs, and lower body, while reclining on the bed, thereby relieving the heart from the usual strain when one is taking other forms of exercise.

It has been positively ascertained that positively rotating the foot engaging means through a complete circle produces a completely different exercise to a patient from merely reciprocating the feet back and forth through a given path of travel, bringing into action many back and leg muscles not affected by the reciprocating method of exercise.

The upper body and arm exercising apparatus consists of a frame I! mounted below the bed support I, which carries the second electric driving motor l8 provided with the gear l9 which support.

'connected together at their lower ends by the cross brace 23, which in turn is connected to the large gear wheel 20 by the eccentric link 24. Thus when the control switch 25 for the motor I8 is closed, the hand rods 22 will be reciprocated vertically at a rapid rate, thus exercising the muscles of the arms and the upper body. If the person tried to hasten or speed up the rate of reciprocation, additional muscular benefit will be received.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have shown the additional vibrating and exercising apparatus for treating the body by actual kneading contact and vibration. A vibrator motor 26 will be supported by the bracket 21 on the adjustable cross rod 28, which in turn will be'provided with the end claimping means 29 for clamping to the vertical hand rods 22 at the desired height above the body of the patient when on the bed The motor vibrator is mounted in a vertical position, and supports through the ball and socket joint 30, the applicator 3|, which comprises a plurality of flexible downwardly and laterally extending fingers having resilient spring 'cores and covers of rubber, leather or other contact with the patients body, and also vibrates during the same time. A control switch 34 controls the vibrator motor 26, and is mounted on the side of the bed support I adjacent the other control switches l6 and 25.

It will be apparent that many minor changes in detail of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a supporting bed, a frame or housing at ,one end thereof, foot engaging means mounted within said frame for movement through a complete circle, and means for positively motivating said foot engaging means.

2. A device of the character described comprising a suporting bed, a frame or housing at one end thereof, driving wheels rotatably mounted at the sides of said frame, an off-set connecting shaft connecting said driving wheels, foot engaging means mounted on said shaft for movement through a complete circle, and means for positively motivating said foot engaging means and associated mechanism.

3. A device of the character described comprising a supporting bed, a frame or housing at one end thereof, driving wheels rotatably mounted at the sides of said frame, an off-set connecting shaft connecting said driving wheels, counterweights carried by said driving wheels diametrically opposed to said shaft, foot engaging 'means mounted on said shaft for movement through a complete circle, and means for positively motivating said foot engaging means and associated mechanism.

PRENTIS E. ERICKSON. 

